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Great info, rscotfish. Thanks!

I will add two things. First a bit technical, is using scales to age fish is as much an art as a science. It takes years of practice to get good at it. I've done...

As already mentioned here once I don't think the mayflies will have the same impact this year and next. With the abundance of all those small walleye out there I doubt the hatches will slow the...

Way too much info in the original post to go into any detail here. I was an employee of the ODW. I’ve seen it from the inside as well as from the outside. Three things here are fact.

1. ODW’s...

Some of you may have read my similar post last year. I have started a project to take underwater video of walleye and other fish in the Western Basin of Lake Erie. The purpose of this project is to...

The Maumee River Basin got a lot of rain. Most of the Lake Erie inflow comes from the Detroit River (upper Lakes), so when the upper Lakes are above "average" Lake Erie goes up also. Good for...

Walleye like many fish species have a large variation in color, both in actual color and hue. There are several reasons for this. Finding a fish that exhibits a color variation noticeably different...

Don't know why anyone has posted a report so far today (8:33pm), so I will.

Straight from charter boat - the info is "general" to protect the boat from a swarm of other boats on Saturday am, but I...

The Smallmouth aren't on the spawn yet, or just starting, so they can be found all over, shallow and deeper water. Any of the islands shorelines and shoals and the reefs hold smallmouth. Two areas...

Lineman92,

Memorial Day Weekend is busy on any waterway, and on this end of Lake Erie, the Western Basin, but especially around the Islands. LOTS of pleasure boats along with all the fishing...

The Lake Erie Watersnake is closely related to the Northern Watersnake and the two can be misidentified or mistaken for each other. If you see the snake on one of the islands or shores near the...

There are a lot of regulations for the commercial fisherman, including the trap nets, especially once the recreational boating season starts. Too many to go into here, but yes, they often set trap...

Forgot about this example of how the currents move in Lake Erie. In April 2016 we had a vary unusual period of clear days, 5 in a row plus a few partly cloudy days. This was right after a big wind...

Addition to the FYI - A few fish finding tips when water thermoclines and clarity are in play, now through mid-to-late June:

When the winds blow hard and/or lots of muddy river water flows in, the...

Here's my FYI again (every season about now) for the topic of water clarity and "where the fish are" at any particular place.

I'm a scuba diver and have dove the Lake in various places in May and...

How soon we forget. Remember last May and early June? No big rain events to pump muddy water into the Lake from the rivers, and very few windy days (if there were they were from a southerly...

The sheepshead are invading the reef areas as they are being caught now. The transition to post spawn is early this year. Water temperatures already in the upper 40's to even 50 degrees.

Unusual question in that you say "jigging or crankbaits." Hardly anyone uses crankbaits while drifting. You could use a crankbait if the wind speed was fast enough so you could leave it out, but...

FYI - From ODW website:

"It is unlawful for any person to possess a fish in any form or condition other than whole while on or when unloading the fish from a boat, while wading, or while fishing...

Just an FYI the CharterCam live Lake Erie fishing webcam is up and running for the season. It will be live out-on-the-Lake whenever the charter boat is out.

http://www.ilakeerie.com/webcam.asp
...

Forecast for both days is very fluid as far as wind speed goes. Could be a bit nasty on Saturday late morning / early afternoon. Will be chilly either way.

I've always looked at it this way: if...

Rick Reed,

Just left you a private message. Willing to help you out, mostly with jig / drift fishing and Lake knowledge.

West Basin

The State Park Campground has (or had) a fish cleaning station, but I think it's for campground guests only. Call them to find out.
(419) 285-2112 in season - if no answer call the number below for...

There are several ramps in that area, most are private - marina's with ramps open to the public. You'll have to check them to see if they are open yet, but they should be. Most charge a fee, $5...

It is generally understood (not really scientific) that during the spawning runs the walleye are not usually feeding. When they are off the actual spawn area, they will feed, such as catching them...

It is a virus called Lymphocystis which infects the skin of fish, in Lake Erie mostly walleye, causing the fleshy tumors you see on the skin. Usually not harmful to the walleye, but in extreme cases...